Question for Bill - AW-4 handle

Bill - I'm betting you will probably know the answer and may even have a
picture...

For a '99 XJ with the AW-4 tranny, is there any way to remove the T from
the shifter shaft? I never have liked it and would like to replace it
with something like a Hurst shifter T handle. I've seen Hurst T handles
with integrated buttons that are used for hill holder brakes. I'd bet
that button could replace the AW-4's T handle button (assuming the AW-4
button activates a solenoid instead of a mechanical linkage).

I've been told I can just pull the T off the shaft, but I'm afraid to do
that - I suspect that shaft is just held in with some plastic thingies.

Anyone know how to do this or have pictures?

Leave the Hurst to the Real transmissions:
http://www.billhughes.com/B%26Msticker.jpg Our litigious society has
forced us to use ignition brake interlocks:
http://www.billhughes.com/xjShiftInterlock.pdf
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Clap Trap wrote:
>
> Bill - I'm betting you will probably know the answer and may even have a
> picture...
>
> For a '99 XJ with the AW-4 tranny, is there any way to remove the T from
> the shifter shaft? I never have liked it and would like to replace it
> with something like a Hurst shifter T handle. I've seen Hurst T handles
> with integrated buttons that are used for hill holder brakes. I'd bet
> that button could replace the AW-4's T handle button (assuming the AW-4
> button activates a solenoid instead of a mechanical linkage).
>
> I've been told I can just pull the T off the shaft, but I'm afraid to do
> that - I suspect that shaft is just held in with some plastic thingies.
>
> Anyone know how to do this or have pictures?

Thanks for the picts Bill.

They show the T handle is a separate piece from the shaft, but nothing
indicates how to remove it. I don't want to mess with any of the
cabling or anything. Just removing the handle shouldn't require
anything other than hooking the button switch to the button on a B&M
type T handle so it should work. If I could just figure out how to get
that handle off.

This may not help, but the last console automatic car I drove had a small
allen screw in the front of the handle that held it onto the stick. It was
also a 76 Dodge Aspen.

HTH

Carl


"Clap Trap" > wrote in message
...
> Bill - I'm betting you will probably know the answer and may even have a
> picture...
>
> For a '99 XJ with the AW-4 tranny, is there any way to remove the T from
> the shifter shaft? I never have liked it and would like to replace it
> with something like a Hurst shifter T handle. I've seen Hurst T handles
> with integrated buttons that are used for hill holder brakes. I'd bet
> that button could replace the AW-4's T handle button (assuming the AW-4
> button activates a solenoid instead of a mechanical linkage).
>
> I've been told I can just pull the T off the shaft, but I'm afraid to do
> that - I suspect that shaft is just held in with some plastic thingies.
>
> Anyone know how to do this or have pictures?

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 16:54:42 -0500, Clap Trap > wrote:

>Bill - I'm betting you will probably know the answer and may even have a
>picture...
>
>For a '99 XJ with the AW-4 tranny, is there any way to remove the T from
>the shifter shaft? I never have liked it and would like to replace it
>with something like a Hurst shifter T handle. I've seen Hurst T handles
>with integrated buttons that are used for hill holder brakes. I'd bet
>that button could replace the AW-4's T handle button (assuming the AW-4
>button activates a solenoid instead of a mechanical linkage).
>
>I've been told I can just pull the T off the shaft, but I'm afraid to do
>that - I suspect that shaft is just held in with some plastic thingies.
>
>Anyone know how to do this or have pictures?

Grasp the T-handle firmly. Pull it straight up/off the shaft.
Honestly, that's it. No screws, no catches, just a sort of plastic
retainer in the t-handle sort of like the cap on a jug of milk.

I didn't believe it until I did it myself (97 XJ).

The button on the t-handle presses a button on the top of the shifter
shaft. That moves a short cable which lifts a piece of metal so you
can shift.


Drifter
"I've been here, I've been there..."

Hmm - that sounds like a mechanical connection to me. Bummer. That
means it would not be a simple thing to replace the T handle with a B&M
type handle.

But - maybe the knob style handle from a Grand Cherokee would work?
Have you ever taken one of those off?

BTW, why did you ever take the handle off an XJ in the first place to
know how it works?

Drifter wrote:
> The button on the t-handle presses a button on the top of the shifter
> shaft. That moves a short cable which lifts a piece of metal so you
> can shift.

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 05:34:43 -0500, Clap Trap > wrote:

>Hmm - that sounds like a mechanical connection to me. Bummer. That
>means it would not be a simple thing to replace the T handle with a B&M
>type handle.
>
>But - maybe the knob style handle from a Grand Cherokee would work?
>Have you ever taken one of those off?
>
>BTW, why did you ever take the handle off an XJ in the first place to
>know how it works?
>
>Drifter wrote:
>> The button on the t-handle presses a button on the top of the shifter
>> shaft. That moves a short cable which lifts a piece of metal so you
>> can shift.

I was mounting a set of toggle switches on the center console (right
on that shift plate) so I needed to pull that plate off to drill the
holes.


Drifter
"I've been here, I've been there..."